Gov’t pays ¢500k compensation to families of slain Ejura youth

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The government has fulfilled the pledge to pay compensation to families of the two youth who were killed during a disturbance in the Ashanti Region town of Ejura last year.

A Deputy Minister for the Interior Naana Eyiah Quansah on Saturday, February 5, handed over a cheque of ¢250,000 to each family totalling ¢500,000.

The killing

The victims, Abdul Nasir Yussif and Mutala Suraj Mohammed died when they sustained gunshot wounds during a protest over the murder of a social media activist, Ibrahim Mohammed aka Kaaka.

Four others sustained various degrees of injury in the shooting said to have fired by soldiers during the June 29 protest.

A three-member Ministerial Committee set up to investigate the matter recommended a compensation package for the affected victims and their families.

Address

During the presentation, the deputy interior minister said the injured victims will also be compensated at a later date.

“Today’s presentation is to the two families of the deceased persons, which is GH¢250,000 each. We brought them cheques to that effect. For the injured victims, doctors will come to examine them and advise and we’ll accordingly come in to support,” she said.

Another member of the delegation and Coordinator of the Zongo Development Fund, Ben Abdallah Banda said the presentation was made in fulfillment of a promise made by the government. He urged the youth to channel their grievances to the appropriate channel and not resort to violence.

“Violence is bad. Youth in this community have to exercise a lot of restraints. I would like to plead with them to use the legal means to resolve their grievances”, Abdallah said

Representatives of the families were thankful to the government for fulfilling its promise and the unflinching support they have received from the Chief of Ejura.

They however want the government to put measures in place to avert such deadly violence in the area.

“We are thankful to the chief of Ejura for following up on the issue. We are also thankful to the coordinator for the Zongo Development and the deputy interior minister. Again we are thankful to our Imams for supporting us with prayers to ensure we do not witness a similar incident,” Abdullah Abubakar, a family member of the late Nasir Yusif spoke on behalf of the families of the two deceased persons.

Also present at the event were DCOP Boakye Yiadom, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Lt. Col Peprah, a Commander with the 4BN of the Ghana Army, Sheikh Aremeyaw from the office of the Chief Imam, among others.

SOURCE: DAILY MAIL GH